Body of missing boater found on Fishers Island

Izaskun E. Larrañeta

The body of a Thompson man who disappeared from his sailboat on May 17 after following the Charles W. Morgan to New London was recovered on Saturday.

Adam Strelczuk, the son of 62-year-old Daniel Strelczuk, said he received a call from state police on Fishers Island Saturday afternoon, saying they had found his father’s body.

The younger Strelczuk, of Mystic, said while he is confident the body that was found Saturday is his father, he is still awaiting official confirmation.

The body recovered had on the same clothes his father was wearing when he went missing, he said.

State police on Fishers Island could not be reached for comment.

Daniel Strelczuk was sailing his white 1974, 30-foot Dufour sloop, named Cassiopea, when he went missing between 1 and 7 p.m. while heading back to Spicer’s Marina in Noank from New London after a day watching the Mystic Seaport whaleship’s inaugural trip after extensive renovations. Strelczuk’s boat was found adrift near Fishers Island.

At the time of his disappearance, an extensive search was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard with aid from police and fire departments in both Connecticut and New York.

Adam Strelczuk said he was told two hikers found his father’s body on the north shore of the island.

Strelczuk’s family had asked for help from the public to find Daniel Strelczuk, requesting any photos anyone may have taken of the boat sailing on May 17. He said he has since learned that the wind picked up that day, making the waters very choppy. He said he believes his father fell victim to a boating accident.

“We are all very relieved,” said Adam. “It was very good news that he was found. We look forward to putting him at rest.”